DERBY — City Treasurer Walt Mayhew announced Wednesday he is resigning his position because he is moving to Danbury.
His resignation is effective July 20.
Mayhew has a long record of public service in Derby. He previously served on the Board of Aldermen, the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, and the Board of Education. He was elected city treasurer in 2019, with a goal of performing the job as explicitly spelled out in the Derby City Charter.
Mayhew was previously the pastor at Christian Community Church, later Walnut Hill Community Church, in Derby.
Mayhew was also elected to the tax board in 2019. However, his election to the tax board was negated by an interpretation of a state law that prevents one person from holding “incompatible town offices.”
Mayhew was also a key player in Brian Coppolo’s mayoral race in 2019. The candidate nearly upset incumbent Mayor Rich Dziekan.
“I thank the voters of Derby for the opportunities they have afforded me to serve them on each of the major boards (BOA, BOAT & BOE) and most recently as Treasurer over the five decades that I’ve been involved in city government,” Mayhew said in an email shared with The Valley Indy.
“My wife and I believe the Lord has made it clear that it is time to turn the page on my political involvement in Derby. As a result, we have sold our home in Derby and found a small home to rent on Candlewood Lake in Danbury less than six miles from the school I teach at as we downsize preparing for retirement,” he said.
Mayhew has sold his house in Derby.
“We continue to hope for only the best for our hometown and are encouraged by all the interest in the downtown redevelopment zone. When outsiders are willing to invest large sums of money to acquire and develop property on Main Street it shows that people believe the future for Derby is bright. We hope all are encouraged by this and look forward as we do to see the downtown transformed into a bustling metropolitan area,” he said.
In an email to Derby government on June 12, Mayhew provided an update on some Derby finances, and recommended the city strongly consider getting a new company to manage the city’s pension fund assets. Mayhew expressed displeasure with the current company the city deals with, calling the firm unprofessional.
Mayhew also resigned from the Derby Democratic Town Committee effective June 12.
According to the Derby Charter, the Democratic members of the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen are tasked with replacing Mayhew with someone from the Democratic Party.
However, if Mayhew wasn’t registered with a party, the mayor would appoint a replacement, subject to the approval of the Aldermen/Alderwomen.
